The Petty Kingdoms

The Petty Kingdoms were once full of life and trade. More than one of the Great Cities of the Ancients lay in these mountain ranges. There is a lush valley at 335 degrees and quite a few easy passes that allow merchants and casual travelers to get through the mountain ranges and out to the coastal lands on the Great Water.

Throughout the ages they have benefited from being near other great places such as the Travelers' Circle, the White City, the Land of Sunsets and, not to be forgotten, the Fire Mountain of the Dragon Lords. The people of these Petty Kingdoms are quite diverse, their rich history and their past greatness having at one time or another drawn people from all the other lands of the Circle of the World.

Perhaps it is because of this past greatness that they are now so useless. This once great land has fallen to the ruin that can only come from many competing greedy Kings. The Petty Kings. They each carved out their own little realms, splitting these lands into tiny single-mountain Kingdoms that quickly fell into disrepute.

For many years now these Kingdoms have held no interest to outsiders. Merchants go through the low passes on their guard for thieves and troublemakers without once looking up at the Kingdoms that lie atop the mountains. Even the keenest of Travelers only pass through them if they must, leaving little for us record-hunters to find except long lists of boring titles and silly problems like two Kings fighting over a harvest with sarcastic comments and uninteresting legal formalities.

~ Fujo (Year 38 of the Giant Wars)

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